Commencement of Companies (Amendment) Ordinance 2023

The Hong Kong government has published a press release to remind of the fact that the new Companies (Amendment) Ordinance 2023 came into force on April 28, 2023, which provides public companies with the flexibility to also hold their general meetings in hybrid or virtual form only. Corresponding changes have been made as regards
– the notification of an upcoming meeting (place, date, time, website, etc.);
– the permission to hold virtual meetings unless provided otherwise in the company’s articles;
– the obligations of companies to allow listening, speaking, or voting at meetings that take place at two or more physical locations at the same time; and
– the consideration of being present when a shareholder attends a virtual meeting.
Also, the government informs that the Companies Registry (CR) has implemented a dedicated website to provide further information for companies and investors on the corresponding changes to the Companies Ordinance.